News & Press Releases 2005

DENVER – Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers today announced that he and the Attorneys General of 46 other states, and the District of Columbia, reached agreement with Blockbuster Inc., to settle allegations that it deceived consumers in the advertising of its “No Late Fee” program beginning in late 2004. In Colorado, the program was in place in 121 company-owned stores and in 4 franchise stores. Blockbuster has agreed to change its advertising and will make refunds or credits to consumers who file a complaint.

“While I am disappointed that the Court reversed the conviction based upon a jury instruction that Ms. Auman’s counsel initially agreed to, I am pleased that it upheld Colorado’s felony-murder statute, and found that as a matter of law, being in police custody does not preclude a felony-murder conviction.

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers today announced the dismissal of the “Cash Funds” lawsuit filed against Gov. Owens and Treasurer Coffman last year. Suthers relayed the decision in a letter to Gov. Owens, Treasurer Coffman, Senate President Fitz-Gerald and House Speaker Romanoff.

DENVER - Effective immediately, Kristen Hubbell is the new Communications Director for the Colorado Attorney General’s office. All media inquires can be directed to (303) 866-5632 or via email at kristen.hubbell@state.co.us.

WASHINGTON, DC – Colorado Attorney General John Suthers today announced a joint public/private initiative in conjunction with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), credit card companies and attorneys general from across the country to prevent the illegal sale of cigarettes over the Internet.

“This initiative is a multijurisdictional approach to protecting children from obtaining tobacco products illegally,” said Suthers. “Working together, this initiative will help keep tobacco products out of the hands of our children.”

DENVER -- Attorney General John W. Suthers announced today that his Office, in conjunction with the Attorneys General of Florida and Kansas, has settled a lawsuit against Geneva Pharmaceuticals of Broomfield (recently renamed Sandoz Pharmaceuticals) and Abbott Laboratories of Illinois.

In its order of March 7th preliminarily approving the settlement, the U.S. District Court overseeing the case ordered Geneva and Abbott to pay a combined $200,000 civil penalty to the State of Colorado. The settlement is subject to final approval by the Court.

DENVER - Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers today advised consumers who have used credit cards to make purchases at DSW Shoe Warehouse stores since October 2004 to contact their credit card issuers immediately. DSW’s parent company, Retail Ventures, Inc., announced yesterday that certain personal financial information of its customers has been compromised. DSW has six stores in Colorado (Littleton, Westminster, Cherry Creek, Broomfield, Lakewood, and Colorado Springs).

DENVER – The University of Colorado Foundation has served a statutory notice of claim against Colorado Attorney General John Suthers in his official capacity, and Brian Whitney, First Assistant Attorney General. Deputy Attorney General Jason Dunn issued the following statement:

DENVER - Attorney General John W. Suthers today announced his Office’s participation in the settlement of a multistate antitrust investigation into allegedly anticompetitive conduct that occurred in connection with Hearst Corporation’s 1998 acquisition of Medi-Span, Inc., then one of the nation’s leading providers of electronic drug information databases. At the time of the acquisition, Hearst also owned First DataBank, the other leading provider of these databases.